Yearly Archives: 2013

I suppose we should expect opposition.

I have had an aversion to seeing the devil under every stone.  Warfare has more easily been understood as following the principles of Jesus.  Where there is an obvious breach of sin or an outright action of commission relating to pride, lust, envy, jealousy, immorality, etc., that must be cared for.  Most of life is best cared for in this mode!

I am not as sensitive to the engulfing presence of the evil one(s) as I would like to be.  There is a point where life throws a blanket over joy, without warning.  With nothing that would appear to be sinful, a bump in the road appears.  Perhaps just for a moment in thought, sometimes for an extended period of distraction.

The blanket is not one that I pull over my head.  The blanket seems to have been thrown over myself or a group of people indiscriminately.

Maybe not so indiscriminately.  The other world, the world of the spirit and not of the flesh, has those who are watching over us.  Not for good, but for evil.  I need to be reminded that pushing back that attack needs special forces – personal prayer, mustering an army to fight with me, resisting the devil based in Jesus, and, I suppose, learning to recognize the form of an attack.

In this last while there have been those times.  Scary times.  The kind that causes you to flee to Jesus.  And to appreciate others who are on this journey with you.  Thank you for your whispers for me.  Keep it up!

I thought it was.

But it hasn’t been.

That’s the power of the end of the summer.

Next week we begin all sorts of programming in our church.  School starts and I have a grade 10 student in the house.  And somehow there is a psychological barrier that needs to be overcome.

Our province mandated the beginning of school after the Labour Day long weekend.  Many of us thought nothing of it.  Until this year. 

Previously parents were scrambling in August to get things ready for school, which began the end of August.  This year some are still thinking that September is a ways away (purely psychological!!).  For that reason their preparations have been minimal.

All that to say, yesterday I thought it was Friday.  Or maybe another day of the week.  A summer day.  With sun and heat.  Some unknown, unshaped and unlisted day of the week.

Today is Friday, right??

The basement bathroom and bedroom are being painted – and effort mostly by Cynthia, but also by me.

In the midst of this, the idea of changing out the door knobs was explored.  We chose the type that are handles more than rounded knobs.  I’m finding that the small  advantages reap great rewards.  A handle is much easier to manipulate (using the Latin word for hand!!).  A good thing for those whose arthritis makes that necessary.  And, I hear, a good selling feature!

Unexpectedly, I was in the basement.  The bathroom is in the final stages and I slipped inside.  As I came out I looked at the entry and the new color and the refreshed furnishings.

This felt like a new thing.  Which is exactly what we are trying to do. 

As a new couple, old things pass away, but are not forgotten.  New things arise that are a blend of both of us.

Funny how an inexpensive door knob becomes a symbol for a whole new life.  I’ll never look at a bathroom the same again!!

I was perusing through my blog site and was reminded that I have been writing this blog for eight years.  Much has happened since the beginning blog entry. 

I suppose we all want life to remain in a comfortable setting.  I noted that life has been full of change for me.  My comfort has had to be in God.  Others will come and go, circumstances will alter our lives.  God remains the same.  Yesterday, today and forever.

There are entries that are mundane – Mouse in the house!  And entries that are significant life changers – the death of my first wife.

I am thankful for those who have read this blog over the years.  My father was a regular reader of my blog.  In 2009 he passed away.  I miss his encouragement and comments.  Mom Cooper continues to read the blog faithfully – I enjoy her constant comments.

I suppose what spurs me on to write is three fold!  I enjoy the writing venture.  Words and crafting of them is just plain fun.  I also realize that writing helps me to see the world in a little more realistic perspective.  Some would call this therapeutic.  And, if in the writing, some help can be given to others, I am thankful.

Eight years.  Older than my grandson.  1/3 of the years of the age of my children.  Time given over to reflection on life and the happenings therein. 

For this I am thankful.